>> some of the fiercest fighting since the battle in ukraine began. >> violence shows signs of spreading further. hello there, you're watching al jazeera live from london. also coming up. helicopters attacks and street fighting in bengahzi as forces loyal to a former libyan general

step up their fight against militias. five taliban leaders released from guantanamo bay arrive in qatar, but there are questions in the u.s. over the deals that freed them. and surprise abdication. spain's king juan carlos said that he'll step down from the country's throne. >> there have been running gun battles between pro-russian militia and ukrainian troops in the country's east. it began with a talk by hundreds of separatists in a camp in luhansk. five of the pro russian fighters were killed. >> reporter: the ukrainian border guard under attack in a

dawn raid by straightist fighters. surrounded by a force of up to 500 strong. ukrainian jet fight precious scrimmibled, flying missions over the city of luhansk, where it claimed that the attack was being order nateed. heavy plumes of smoke rise above the skyline. the region northeast of the city of doneskt has seen a sharp up serge in supplies of ammunition and new weapons. ukraine's president-elect has vowed to press through a military mission against them. labeling them as terrorists and enemies of the state. it's attacks likes these that could endanger that mission with each day that passes more and

more volunteers are coming in, many of them battle-hardened veterans with military skills and weapons that could really challenge the ukraine army. close by civilians have started to flee the area. we came across a mother speaking on the mobile phone to her son trapped inside the border guard base. >> when will they stop? i've been waiting. they're not just shooting. they're frightening us. now we're running away. >> reporter: a last stand is being made by the ukrainian troops, trapped, surrounded, and heavily outnumbered. air support alone will not be enough to save them. >> well, we can speak to david chat er live now. he is in luhansk. those really have been some of the most intense pictures of fighting that we've seen so far.

>> reporter: yes, they've got them totally surrounded. we don't know how long the supplies of ammunition will hold out against the 500 separatist fighters that are pinning them down at the moment. behind me the firing just started again, by the way. there has ban cease-fire for about 30 minutes where both sides collected their injured and their dead. but it's not just behind me that has seen fighting during the course of the day. there was an airstrike against the local administration building in which the pro russian separatist fighters say five people were killed, and the mayor has ordered the air raid shelters to open up in the city. and in the streets, in the flats behind me, which has the view looking over the base, there has been a lot of fighting in the streets around there as well. clearly the fighters, the militiamen are trying to full

assault the base itself, but so far they have been kept back with fierce fire coming out out of the border guard's base. this is by no means over. the authorities in kiev say that they'll be using aviation once again and armor to try to push through what they call an anty terrorist mission. at the moment this is turning into something of a humiliation for them. what are they going to do with the 70 soldiers trapped in the area behind me. they are effectively pinned down, and a jet fighter is not going to release them. >> let's talk about that a little bit more. as you mentioned it is difficult for the government in kiev, and we heard earlier in the day from some of the people living there that they were saying technically it's our government that is raining down all of this on us. it's difficult for kiev.

>> that's exactly what i heard at the maternity hospital in slovyansk. some of the cities that have taken over by the pro-russian fighters, and ukrainians don't know what to do. how have they pushed through the assault here? we have no idea. but as far as kiev is concerned they said they would start this within hours when the president-elect broke threw with 54through with 54% of the first round of the election. this has begun to humiliate him and kiev. perhaps that's what russia wants. they say all the fighters coming in are volunteers, and we haven't beewei've been speaking

with some of them who have come in with fresh weapons. they've come as far as kazakhstan, breakaway regions of georgia, which fell under russian rule in the 2008 war in georgia. more weapons, fresh ammunition, more volunteers with experience in battle in afghanistan. increasing problems for kiev to carry out their promise to finish this fight until not another terrorist remains alive, as they called them. >> urging an immediate halt to the violence. it's foreign minister said that he wants the humanitarian corridors created to allow for

the save panels fo panels for civilians and aid in the middle east. >> the actual start of negotiations in aim of establishing a stable and reliable cease-fire to create without delay a corridor in which civilians may leave combat areas if they wish. >> gas company from russia said that kiev still owns it $2.2 billion. the week-long extension comes after kiev paid a portion of the bill. the dispute could threaten europe's gas supply. helicopter gunships have been firing on militia fighters in the libyan city of bengahzi. 90 people have been killed and dozens more injured in fighting between the militia group and forces led by renegade former

general kahlifa haftar. >> reporter: it started in the early hours of the morning. residents from the eastern city awoke to this. >> there have been machine guns and explosions. the fight something going. >> reporter: fighters from the armed group and others attacked a special forces base who has sworn allegiance to the retired general haftar. it sooned turned into a full scale war. there have been casualties and civilians among the dead. bengahzi is a heavily populated city, and the fighting is spilling over into residential areas. haftar has launched airstrikes

on the brigade, groups he accuses of extremism and terrorism. they are now fighting back. residents describe the fighting as even wars than the degas definitefy forces tried to enter the city in 2011. >> many libyans believe it is time to put differences aside and protect the city and the people. >> we have an update on the situation in libya. >> reporter: there has been a terrifying ordeal for the people of bengahzi, fighting that lasted almost eight hours starting very early in the morning. the group launched an attack on the base of a group that pledges allegiance to the operation led by the former general ca

kahlifa haftar. he said he wants to rid the country of extremists and terrorists and particularly labeling this group on the early hours of monday morning they retaliated giving him the mention that certainly they're very strong, the people we spoke to in bengahzi said this is the worst fighting, worse than when qaddafi forces try to enter the city back in 2018. they said it's concerning to see how strong this armed group is, and those who are supporting it. also people are not happy that we haven't heard any word from governments that are in place here. they say it feels like no one is in charge. no one can rein in these extre extremely well-armed militias, and extremely concerned about how this is going to play out because both sides, haftar, and two others groups say they're going to fight this until the

end. >> a deal that reconciles hamas and fatah factions. the two have governed straigh separately since 2007. the two governments are tasked with elections in the next two months. israeli president benjamin netanyahu has urged world leaders not to rush to recognize the newly formed government saying it will, quote, strengthen terrorism. >> i'm standing down from my role, but i'm not abandoning my responsibility. the responsibility towards our homeland will remain serving our people wherever we are. within the government, outside of the government, we'll continue to serve the great people of palestine. >> well, al jazeera with the latest. >> reporter: after seven years of the political rift that has

only widened over the years, a national unity government has just been formed. the first national unity government was formed in 2007 and lasted for three months before palestinian president mahmood abbas absolved it. so it's been in negotiations to reach this national unity government long and hard. it's believed that the road ahead is even harder and filled with challenges. that's because this government, which is made up of technocrats, is tasked with preparing for general elections next year. it's also has to deal with the punitive merges or a backlash from israel. now the israeli government has said from the beginning that it will reject any government that includes hamas members. we just heard from israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu saying that the palestinian

president today has said yes to terror and no to peace. to try to mend the rift, and narrow the rift and avoid any backlash from israel, which that is threatened sanctions on the palestinian authority, and has also said it will hold the palestinian authority responsible for any attacks on israel by gaza or the west bank. >> well still ahead on the program. thousands celebrate the form creation of india's newest state, te langana. an

>> here is a reminder of the top stories on al jazeera. gun battles have broken out between pro-russian militia and ukrainian troops. it's some of the fiercest fighting since the battle began. >> more fighting in libya's city of bengahzi. and spain's king juan carlos will be abdicating.

>> as we he were just saying the king of spain will be abdicating. the 76-year-old has suffered failing health in the past yea years. >> reporter: king juan carlos helped smooth spain's transition to democracy after years of dictatorship. for that the spanish people hold him in high regard. in recent years he has become increasingly frail and out of step with modern attitudes. nonetheless the announcement of the abdication came as a huge surprise. photographs showed the moment the abby case order was signed. it was followed by a video statement by the outgoing king himself.

>> my onli want the best for spain, to whom i've dedicated my entire life, the service that i gave all my ability, hopes and efforts. >> king juan carlos came into power just two days after franco's death. his approach was fresh and easy going. but in 1981 when soldiers stormed parliament in attempt of a military coup, juan carlo carlo showed a decisive side. his daughter, princess christina is under investigation together

with her husband in an i don't knoin an ongoing corruption case. crown prince philippe is a tall, former yacht it'sman and popular in the country. >> if the king's abdication brings positive change then i'm all for it. i think he'll be a good king because he has been prepared well. >> polls show 62% of the spaniards want the king to abdicate in favor of prince. 56% thought he could improve the world image if he took over. soon he will get his chance. paul brennan,age. >> earlier i spoke to our political analyst in madrid. i asked him how juan carlos will be remembered? >> he's still loved as a

person. it's the institutional role that has been a disappointment. all the people will have a very good memory of him. but the general idea is that he has had his time. he has been a political institution between dictatorship and the monarchy, and that he was really out of touch with the modern world, the 21st century and all its political and social changes. in that sense i think he will be remembered as important in terms of his legacy as moving from dictatorship and democracy. but at the same time his image will suffer for the last five or six years of his reign, which has been disastrous. >> the international atomic agency is meeting in vienna. they say it's violate to address the watchdog's concerns if

powers are to meet with iran. they praised iran for becoming more open about its nuclear program. >> i welcome this. iran has engaged substantially. this has helped us to gang better understanding of its nuclear program. >> al jazeera continues to demand the release of its journalists detained in egypt. mohamed fahmy, bader mohammed, and peter greste were back on court on monday. a fourth al jazeera journalist abdullah elshamy has been held without charges for nine months. he also requested a doctor report to document his poor

health. five guantanamo detainees were exchanged for u.s. sgt. sgt. bowe bergdahl. >> they stopped halfway to be greeted by a taliban based group in the capitol. there is no video of the two or leaders. they were all detained for is it years in guantanamo. their release was part of a prisoner swap. in exchange for their release the taliban-freed soldier bowe

bergdahl, who spent five years in captivity, the deal was criticized by members of the congress who said it would embolden taliban to kidnap more george this is shocking to me. especially without coming to congress. and putting five people potentially back on the battlefield even though hour troops are out in 2016, it's shocking that the president went along with the timeline like he did in iraq you have five people on the ground targeting american troops, afghan troops and the afghan people. >> but the white house said the deal was instrumental in saving the life of an american prisoner of war. >> this engagement indirectly through the qatarris was for the sole purpose of releasing bowe bergdahl, but we long said and long-hoped that there could be afghan-led reconciliation

between afghan government and it's opponents. if this exchange opens that door a little bit, then we would welcome it, and we would certainly hope that in any event that the reconciliation, which we have all long said is essential, can proceed. >> reporter: the swap was hailed by taliban leader as a big victory. the afghan government, which was only formed after the exchange had taken place was highly critical, describing the breach of international law. this is the most significant deal the u.s. has made with the taliban since the opened office in qatar a year ago. it is seen as a move to engage the taliban in talks with the u.s. over afghanistan. but the main goal is to convince the taliban to join the government in kabul if they

break ties with al-qaeda. >> fifa's top investigator is meeting the organizers of the qatar 2002 world cup. michael garcia in the middle east as part of his own investigation into the hosting process. this comes a day after the sunday times has claimed it has evidence that the former fifa vice president made $5 million in payments to forefootball officials. they claim the payments were in an tempt to help his home nation qatar to secure the 2022 event. well, the qatar 2022 organizers released a statement >> well, the british football

writer said that he does not expect any revote on the venue of the 2022 world cup. >> they were run simultaneously. so if you want to revote on 2022, you have to have a revote on 2018. the 2018 coup 2018 world cup is in russia, and something tells me that vladimir putin would not look happily on that prospect. >> thousands of people have been celebrating the creation of india's newest state telangana. the new state will have a population of $35 million people across ten districts. we have more. >> the man who led the fight for telangana pays tribute to the people who died for the cause. they welcome a new chapter in the country's political history.

>> after what team in telangana describe as a long and painful struggle that effecte affected an entire generation. now they have a new state that more than 30 million people will call home. thousands of mostly poor from all over south india come to this government hospital for treatment. the doctor has. doing the rounds here for 32 years. he said he didn't want to put lives at risk by ignoring the harsh political reality. >> since five years there will be a separation.

>> not everyone's house is in order. a lifetime employee of what was the state, he and his family have always called it home. but now that a new government from a new state occupies the office that he works in his future is uncertain. >> i have worked here for the past 24 years. now i will have to work somewhere else until i retire. my family has been divided. >> the leaders have little sympathy for people like him. >> we are not taking day jobs. they are to get their jobs according to their place. and need to study. >> india's newest prime minister greet his constituents, and perhaps it's biggest challenges are yet to come.

al jazeera, telangana. >> i'm mei-ling mcnamara in canada here to discover how the great bear rainforest is being protected. >> i'm amanda burrell. i'm in london to find out how to make old houses green. >> and i'm yaara bou melhem in indonesia's south sulawesi looking at how the efforts of local people are restoring this mangrove forest. >> unsustainable logng